Newcastle soaks, but not as soggy as Sydney

By Jeannette McMahon (online producer )

Do you want the good news or the bad news? The bad news is that this relentless wet weather is going to continue through the weekend. The good news is that here in Newcastle we haven't had nearly as much rain dumped on us as Sydney. The State's capital has already had its wettest July since 1950, even with a week to go.

Over the past three days alone some eastern parts of Sydney have recorded more than 200mm of rain, with the CBD recording 221mm for the month to 9am today, and Cronulla the wettest suburb at 255mm.

Even though it might feel like we've been inundated here in Newcastle, we've had much less rain than Sydney, with Nobbys recording 107.4mm for July, Lake Macquarie 122.4mm and Williamtown 117.6mm.

Lake Macquarie had 56.6mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am today, while Williamtown had 52mm.

A powerful east coast low which formed off the coast on Monday night has been producing torrential rain, massive swell and gale-force winds.

The rain, which has been confined mostly to the coastal strip, will start to ease as the low moves towards New Zealand.

Meteorologist Dick Whittaker says it's been a particularly slow-moving system, which has caused the rain to hang around for so long.

And while more heavy falls are expected today and tonight, the rain will ease tomorrow and be even lighter by Sunday.

Dick says the current wet spell has certainly peaked and will now start winding down.

What will continue is the big seas, with swells of up to 5m currently pounding most of the State's coastline, although they are expected to ease as the weekend progresses.

Conditions are still way too dangerous for rock fishing, with a severe weather warning for damaging surf in the Hunter, Mid-North Coast, Metropolitan, Illawarra and South Coast districts.

Peak wave heights recorded off Sydney reached 8m this morning and further south a wave of over 10m was recorded off Batemans Bay.

The strong winds that have howled along the coast are dropping as the low moves away.

After a wet and cold weekend, by the time Monday rolls around we can expect no more than a morning shower and even some sunshine in the afternoon, with the weather clearing on Tuesday to a warmer and sunny week ahead.